Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Click, Clack, speedy, fast

When I started blogging I wasn't sure what I would discover or what would happen. I have been lucky to "meet" some fantastic, amazing, and great people.

One of those people is Shortly from Shortly Stitches. I am amazed at how she can finish so many knitted projects with two wee beautiful girls. I'm in awe. I was teasing her the other day in a comment, on her blog, that I was going to create a button/widget for her. It was going to be the Speedy Knitter button. At the time I was joking. Then I read her blog today and discovered she had posted a picture of a beautiful hat she had finished, Rose Red by the very talented Ysolda Teague. Isn't that a lovely hat. I love the name as well. It prompted me to actually come up with a button/widget. So here it is, for you Miss Shortly. I bow to your speediness.
Just grab the button form the sidebar. If anyone else knows a Speedy Knitter please feel free to pass this to them. Please just remember to give credit to the ol' Tink-n-Frog for it's creation. Cheers!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Art(?)

Have you ever found a blog and can't remember where you discovered the blog? Well Adolie Day is such a blog. Funny thing is I can't read most of it, it's written in French. Yet I love her art work.

Another blog, the urchiness, I came across recently, again I'm not sure how or where, had this information. I have always had a mild fascination with Alice in Wonderland. Have you ever read Annotated Alice? I did years ago and need to get another copy. Then mix that with Tim Burton's vision of this story and I can only imagine how this is going to be. You know Tim Burton has children with Helena Bonham Carter? Their son's godfather is Johnny Depp. Yeah imagine what their nursery must of looked like and imagine their childhood.

Well that's all....for now

Sunday, June 21, 2009

One more


Does anyone else ever feel like they are going to explode? If I have to repeat the same thing one more time. If I have to ask for help when it's obvious I'm in desperate need of it. If I have to chase after one more toddler. If I have to hear one more "suggestion" on how to do something from my Dh. If the smallest Wee One gets into or out of something he's not supposed to. If I'm not allowed to complete one more thought or sentence. If the smallest Wee One messes up the screen one more time. If our apartment gets any smaller. If I forget something else because I'm trying to keep in mind everything. I think I'm going to scream!

Sorry but I had to vent or I was going to have Lizzy Borden moment. Well no not really, because I would just have to clean up the mess afterward. And let's be honest trying to get blood and, possibly, brain matter out of my white dress would not be a good thing. I just had to vent. I feel calmer.


In the immortal words of the middle Wee One, Sky,...

Thanks.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Meme Virgin (blush, blush)

Miss Shortly was kind enough to tag me for this meme. This is the first I have ever done. Yep I'm a meme virgin.. So let's see how this goes...

The rules:1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own.2. Tag eight other people.

What is your current obsession?
Hmmm I'm not sure what my current obsession is? (Great answer, huh? Are you still following this? I better think of something, 'cuz I can already see some of you starting to look for another blog to read) I seem to have a few irons in the fire right now. So maybe I should answer my current obsession is trying to get time when I'm not dead tired to do some of the crafts I am working on. So the short answer is: time

What is your weirdest obsession?
I would have answer the whole time thing again. It seems odd to be obsessed with trying to get some quiet time to be able to concentrate on something. But I guess it being odd automatically qualifies it for being weird.

What are you wearing today?
This one is easy since it's 12:12 am here I'm in my pj's.

What’s for dinner?
I wish I could wow you with some grand culinary creation, but this evening was just simple comfort food. Fried chicken breast, mashed cheesy potatoes and celery.

What would you eat for your last meal?
Hmmm....fresh steamed crab and clams with some fresh sour dough bread in a comfy setting near the ocean.


What’s the last thing you bought?
Do you mean besides groceries? I bought some cording for the new Infi-knity bags we've made to add to our shop.(tease, tease, tease)

What are you listening to right now?
The quiet of the house and the fan. Ahhh it's wonderful.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
I would go home to Pacific Grove. I would drive along the ocean find a spot get out and sit on a rock and just watch the waves roll in. And being the huge sap I am would probably cry. I know I'm such a goob!

Which language do you want to learn?
I would love to learn French. Even if my Dh and The Boy would think I was completely nutters.

What do you love most about where you currently live?
This is the question that I am deleting. Simply because try as I might I can't figure out anything to love about this place. Shameful I know.

My replacement question...

What style is your current home decorated in?
I wish I could respond with something cool like cottage, vintage or even shabby chic. But the truth is, our small home is currently decorated to accommodate the wee ones. So I would say a whirling dervish style.

What is your favorite colour?
I don't really have a favorite colour. Never have. I go through periods of liking color ways. Such as earthy colors, cool colors, hot colors, things like that. Right now I'm liking the earthy and cool color ways.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
My poor wardrobe is currently in need of being rejuvenated. So I don't really have a favorite piece.

What were you doing ten years ago?
This time, 10 years ago, we had just moved up to Western Washington. I was getting acclimated to the area.

Describe your personal style?
Eclectic and comfortable

If you had $300 now, what would you spend it on?
I would get a few new pieces of clothing for all of the family and some new yarn. Yep I could do it too.

What are you going to do after this?
Fall into bed a drift off to sleep. Although I should do some knitting. Or put the finishing touches on some projects I'm working on or take some photos for the Etsy store. Or.....

What are your favourite films?
I actually have quite a few. Majority of them are older movies. To list a few of them: Arsenic and Old Lace, Rear Window, Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, Thin Man movies, Enchanted April, French Kiss, oh and Chocolat of course.

What inspires you?
Colors, music, my children, other artists.

Your favourite books?
There is one book that has stayed with me through the years Prince Ombra
by Roderick MacLeish. I think I was always taken with the concept of where he considers evil to reside. I won't say anymore as not to give away to much information. Why yes. Yes I am a tease, thank you. That being said I also have enjoyed other books that I love just as much. Such as Count of Monte Cristo, The Death gate Cycle books, James Patterson's When the Wind Blows and the other books in this series.

Do you collect anything?
I collect fairies and elves. Or should I say they collect me. I have a few that are sitting around in my house. I shall write a post about them soon and introduce you to them. I also seem to collect craft supplies. One never knows when ones is going to need tiny corks or brightly colored feathers.

What makes you follow a blog?
Wit and warmth.

What was the most enjoyable thing you did today?
I know this is probably going to sound contrite. Give hugs, cuddles and kisses to my wee ones right before they went to bed.

What is your favourite FO and why?
I would say the Tulip dolls I created. I enjoyed knitting them and it was grand fun to be able to watch their personalities
develop when I was finishing them.

So for the tagging of eight others;


Alex the Girl

Andrea

Darcy
Who has a Fantastic Give away going on right now

Lina She also has a great give away going on

Meg

Daily

Carrie

Dina


Now go forth and meme.

Friday, June 12, 2009

I've been tagged

Well Miss Alex the Girl tagged me for this post. She was tagged by Pam at Pam's Perspective
Here are the rules:

~Open your first photo folder
~Scroll down to the 10th photo
~Post that photo and story on your blog
~Tag five friends to do the same.

I must admit that I did have to fudge a little. My first folder are things for my blog and the tenth item was a copy of my button. Not a very interesting story. So I decided to pick up an idea from Alex and use a photo of our middle child.


Yep this is the photo that was tenth in that folder and yep this is how it was saved. I was messing around with my photo editing program one day and did this to one of his photos. This is Mr. Skyler Quinn. He's a beauty of a person, even if I do say so myself. Skyler was a complete surprise to us. My Dh and I had our first child in '94. We had not used any protection after that, and I was told we would probably not have any more children because of my inner workings. We had adjusted to that. Unfortunately 11 years after our first son was born my Dh and I were going through a rough patch. The kind of "patch" that says maybe it's time you each went your own way. Then we discovered that I had miraculously became pregnant. My Dh was less than happy. I think it actually made him shy away more. We did all sit down after seeing the first ultra-sound and finding out it was going to be a boy to choose a name. It was our son, The Boy, that picked his name. He first suggested Skywalker. Yes, as in Luke Skywalker. Then he thought about Tyler. Then he put the two together and got Skyler. Now I know the name Skyler has been around, but that is how The Boy decided on naming his brother and it worked for us. Finally with the strain of our stupid adult "problems", when I was 7 months pregnant I and The Boy left my Dh and stayed with a friend.

I remember when Sky was born, the next day, a cleaning woman came into my hospital room. Sky was quietly lying in his little hospital crib. The cleaning lady looked down at him, smiled and said "Oh he belongs to you?" I was a little nervous at that statement. I weakly smiled and tentatively replied "Yes". The woman quickly clarified that this little guy had all the nurses in love with him and that he had quite a personality. She went on to explain that they all felt he should be wearing a top hat and carrying a cane. She finished her tasks and left my room. Of course not before saying a good-bye to my wee one. I looked down at this wee babe and wondered what it was he had managed to do in the hospital nursery during the five hours I had slept. I'm not sure. But I know he and I have a special bond. Don't get me wrong I love all my children. Oh I know we say that and it might sound silly and contrite, but I do. But Sky and I have a special connection. He's very different than his older brother. Our oldest learned quickly and easily. Skyler always learns "differently" He crawled differently, he didn't walk until he was 14 months. He really didn't say much until he was about two. He communicated with his eyes, which are absolutely beautiful. I can't even tell you what color they are because to list one color seems to not describe them correctly. He hates loud noises. Yet will lay in his bed, upstairs with the window open and if he hears my DFaN children outside will yell to them. It's funny he sounds like the character from Street Car named Desire yelling "Stella, Stella".
I have had conversations with my Dh (who eventually came to his senses and joined us to be family once more obviously), my mum, my oldest friend and my DFaN about whether Sky might be autistic, or slow or have a learning disability. And every time I have this concern he amazes me as if to reassure me that he's getting the information, but just in different ways. Now I'm sure some of you will shake your head and tsk tsk me, for what I'm about to divulge, so go right ahead. One day I had one of those "worried mom" conversations with my Dh, not around Sky of course, conveying to my Dh my concern for Sky's language skills. The next day Sky is sitting at the table playing with his toys he looks out the window and sees a plane overhead, out of his moth pops "What da hell?" I about fell over and asked him to repeat himself. He said it again. Now this is where the head shaking would come in. I didn't correct him. He doesn't say it all the time and when he says it he really means it. The funny thing is it's not one of my phrases. I have my oldest to thank for that. There is something else that makes me scratch my head about his wee guy. In our family we have this round robin joke that we do every once in awhile. It started with my dad when I was small and I did it with our first born, before his brother's came along. It starts with a burp. You then instruct the child "say excuse me". If you burp shortly there after the child will try and correct you by telling you to "say excuse me" You then respond with "excuse you" The child usually makes another attempt to get you to say "excuse me" by trying to tell you to say "excuse me", or by saying ok say "excuse you". All the while you just keep turning it around and responding with "excuse you". As I said I used to do this when The Boy was about 7 or 8. Heck I might have even done it up until he was about 10. But I know I have not done this since the youngest children have been born. And my Dh does not mess around with this type of verbal tom foolery. So the other day Sky burped. He was standing there watch tv. Out of habit, and without intention of verbal sparring, I corrected him with "say excuse me" he glances over his shoulder and says "excuse you". I look at him and smile and then I said again more purposeful and with some authority "say excuse me" He looks back at me with a glint in his eyes and a small smile and says "excuse you" It gave me a chill (but not in a bad way). This child that sometimes causes me concern that he's not learning like he should, that frankly there might be something amiss with him, that I have this bond with, always seems to amaze me, always reminds me of how much love I have inside, and to notice the little simple things instead of letting them go by, can do this verbal sparring knowingly. Intersting.

Now I bet Miss Alex is going to be sorry she tagged me. And I will probably do a post on The Boy and the smallest sometime, just to be a fair mama.

So my turn to tag five people:

AmyBel

Darcy

Shortly

Lina

Knitspun

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Trying something new

Yep we are. We decided to give Netflix a try. I can already hear some of you out there. I know I'm behind the times. We evaluated our television watching patterns and realized that we are very selective about what we watch. We usually don't watch the normal channels. Like CBS and ABC. The Wee ones control the tv during the day. It's mostly background noise for them. They request their movies they want to watch and then the run around the house. At night I sit and watch a few selected shows and then end up suffering through whatever is the lesser of the evils. I decided that seemed silly. Since the telly is one of our few luxuries, ok besides the internet and my crafts, I decided to do something about it. Hence Netflix. But who wants to watch movies and tv shows on a small screen laptop, especially when there is a perfectly good LCD tv in the room? Not me. So today Dh went and picked up a cable from our favorite computer store, Recycle Techs, gotta love the name, so that I can hook my lap top into the tv. And Voila! I am able to choose what I want to watch on a large screen. Heck I am even using the tv as my monitor right now. It's a little odd, but like the title says I'm trying something new.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

The Knit List

Well I discovered this on Miss AmyBel's blog. And she said she found it over here. I thought I would try the list myself.

Bold for stuff you’ve done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you’re not planning on doing:

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip-stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity Knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/Doll Clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting: knitting items on, or to be left on the street
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments

Cable stitch patterns
Lace Patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
Knitting to make money
Button Holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Household itesm:dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...
knitting socks-or other small tubular items on two circulars
Dyeing with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Olympic Knitting
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting

Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/Felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed Toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern

Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short Rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a Loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/blolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Must. get. help. and. sleep...

Ok as usual I am attempting something without prior knowledge and/or with no instructor. Right now it's 2:55 am. Uh, yeah, I'm not going to worth diddly in the morn when the Wee Ones are donning their capes or wearing their underwear on their heads. I should clarify and say clean underwear. Anywho, moving right along.

I got a hair up my, well we won't go into that, let's just say my overactive creative mind decided to try my hand at creating a blog background. I went to the Cutest Blog on the Block, because they have a "How To" on doing such a thing, dontcha know. I downloaded the Paint.net. I couldn't get the grasp of it at first. So I went to my old stand-by program that I've had for ages. I got the elements I wanted to use and then transferred it over to the Paint program. I followed the directions on the Cutest Blog and got no where. I'm not sure what I am not doing right. I know nothing about code, html that sort of thing. So am at a loss as to what I'm doing wrong. So in my sleep deprived frame of mind, I've decided to ask anyone in blog land for help and assistance. Has anyone ever done this before? Or am I just out here in left field again. You know you would think I would learn by now to bring a chaise lounge and some snacks. I seem to stand out here quite often.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Blissful Contest

I can't take the credit for discovering this contest. That kudos goes to Miss Amybel. But you should really check out this contest. Altho I must admit I ssoooooooooooooooooo want one of these beauties and would thrilled if I were to win. So please head over and check it out.
http://blissfullydomestic.com/blissful-style/giveaway-hp-mini-vivienne-tam-edition-from-intel/comment-page-23/#comment-32792

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

A bit of gratuitous cuteness...

Ok, I realize that my last post wasn't the cheeriest. And I appreciate you lovely ladies stepping up and giving me a pat on the back with support. Thank you very much.

I try not to do the whole aren't my kids cute thing. But today the Wee Ones did a memory making moment kind of thing. The middle Wee One decided to wear a cape and be a Super Wee One. He then decided that the youngest needed to join him in his adventures. So he handed him his cape and the youngest donned his super hero potato head glasses. To complete his ensemble he of course was wearing his one sock. Cuz you never know when just one sock will be enough. The interesting thing is that he actually stood still for the photos. Of course I had to get a pix of his partner, the middle Wee One. He had to adopt a super hero pose, cuz standing still just didn't show off his Super Hero energy, I guess. As a mere mortal mom I would never begin to try and claim that I would know what would be going through the mind of two Super Hero Wee Ones. Of course shortly after these photos the Amazing Wee Ones Duo got in trouble and were stripped of
there super hero cloaks and made to sit down in time out.




Monday, June 1, 2009

Ok I swear I'm not in a funk...

Well at least I wasn't earlier today. But then we met with the manager of our complex to go over our new lease papers. Ummm ok she's "nice" (weak smile) I just don't get her. Which is fine. 'Cuz I don't want her. It's just every time I have to deal with her or the company that owns this complex I end up walking away feeling like I've just been violated. You know that slimy, icky feeling, like you've just had some sleaze of a guy get all up in everywhere. BBLLLEEEEECCCCCCCCCCCCHHHHH! Yeah that feeling. Usually it goes away but this time it's seeming to linger.

I'm hoping it's just cuz I'm tired. Yeah let's say that. Being tired just seems to amplify the whole not fitting in. Plus I had a minor epiphany today when I was speaking to my DFaN. I discovered that for the last three to five years I have felt that I have had to defend myself. I'm talking about the constant feeling of being judge and found guilty for the way I live my life. When I was in 9th grade, we met with counselors to have them "guide" us in the right direction for life choices. I think I seriously confused and disappointed the counselor that spoke to me. When asked what I wanted to do when I grew up, yeah that gem of a question, I answered to be a mom and housewife. Not a real popular answer, even back then. I still remember the counselor saying that was not a valid response. And me being the feisty youngster I was asked "Why not? It was what my mother had been. What my mother did wasn't good enough?" That stumped them.

As a young woman I did work. I worked at Macy's for twelve and very informative years. I learned a lot from working there that has shaped my life to this day. I used to say I did everything at the store I worked at except pick up the building and move it two inches to the left. And the only reason I didn't do that was the managers couldn't figure out whose left to move it to. And then after that I worked at an employment agency. Trying to find people jobs.

After all the years and all the things my Dh and I have been through, separately and together we came to the conclusion that it would be important to be a mom. As hard as it is, in this economy. Oh don't get me wrong my Dh would be supportive if I went and got a job. But to be brutally honest, I just can't be a Super Woman anymore. Work, Home school, keep the house, take care of the kids and so on. Oh no Dh would support me if I got a out of the home job, but he wouldn't pick up any slack. It's well known I am the stable one in the family (scary huh?). Anywho...where was I? Ahh, yes being judge. So where we currently stay, the area that is , I'm either too black (which I'm not), I'm not Christian enough(which I'm not. Yeah I can already see some of your brows furrowed in confusion) I'm not religious enough (which I'm not. There goes some of those eyebrows again) I'm not white enough. I'm not social enough. I'm not tolerant enough (about drugs) Since I'm not a drug taker or a drinker I must be a snob. Ummm ok? The boy does not get caught up in the regular things that the other kids around us are caught up in. So I defend my son, my Dh(since he is black), my Wee Ones, my spiritual beliefs, and so on. When I am tired all of these things seem to come to the forefront and begin to feel like a never ending battle. Most of the time I ignore it. I speak of my DFaN, because she is the only one that I speak to here. Probably because she is having to do some of the same defending. Living in these apartments I have been judged to be a FBI Narc agent. Yeah laugh now, but I'm serious. I have been judged to be a stuck up B-I-T-C-H. I have also been judged by the company that owns the property as a snitch/spy for the government. No kidding. The reason for the last is I happened to befriend one of the ladies that work at the government agency that the owners deal with. So I make them a little nervous.

Now let me do something I normally don't do. Oh hell I shouldn't do, but let's throw caution to the wind. Allow me to touch on the whole Christian and religious thing. I have absolutely nothing against Christianity. It just has never worked for me. It creates more questions than answers. I prefer to say that I am spiritual. I believe in a higher power. I believe in miracles and magic and faith and angels and spiritual guides and ghosts and spirits and so on. Sorry if any of you are offended by this broad description of my beliefs. I mean no offense, but you might be able to see how my thoughts might not be that well received in a very Christian area. The small town I live in is 6.4 miles big and has 25 churches in that space. No kidding and a little scary. I know of one church in which they strongly advise their young members to marry within the church populace. That is just a little...ummmm....scary to me. So you see that is just one reason I have learned to stay to myself and be quiet about my life.

Hey that is probably why I started blogging. I needed some release. Some way of not hiding. So no, I'm not in funk. Not anymore. See I feel better. Being able to express myself. If I find myself judged by my readers I can simply not read the comments. I don't have to see the severely disapproving looks. Ahhhh, it has helped. That and listening to music. That usually always helps.

Cheers all!